IL HB2238

Election authorities shall mail official ballots no earlier than September 24, 2020, with ballots for applications received by October 1, 2020 to be mailed by October 6, 2020, and subsequent applications to receive ballots within 2 business days.

Vote by mail ballots are presumed to meet legal requirements unless deemed invalid, and signatures on certification envelopes shall be presumed to match unless all 3 election judges unanimously determine they do not match.

Vote by mail ballots may only be rejected by majority vote of election judges for: no signature on envelope, envelope delivered opened, voter already cast a ballot, voter voted in person on election day, or voter is not a registered voter in the precinct.

Voters whose ballots are rejected based on signature issues may submit a statement that they cast the ballot, after which the ballot shall be counted; voters whose ballots are rejected for being opened may vote in person or request a replacement ballot before polls close.

Election authorities shall accept all returned vote by mail ballots regardless of postage and may establish secure collection sites with locks opened only by election personnel, with the State Board of Elections to establish additional security guidelines.